Psycho Gab – Compass: 13th Floor New Song Of The Day
Tāmaki Makaurau five-piece Psycho Gab are stepping into 2026 in style! The fine purveyors of neo-soul have just released their warm and summery new single Compass.
Here is the blurb with more:
Emerging in 2023, Psycho Gab have spent the last few years cultivating a unique sound formed at the crossroads between soul, RnB, jazz and pop; and Compass delivers on all fronts.
Laden with smooth grooves and lush melodies, Compass – much like earlier releases from Psycho Gab – ruminates on a plethora of deeply personal themes but with a new-found assuredness and depth. It offers an honest and vulnerable take on navigating identity and relationships, which is bound to resonate with many.
“There’s a lot bubbling away in there,” says the band’s lead singer Rosetta Stone. “Connecting with self, yet nurturing one another; balancing self-love with community; turning inward without shutting others out; reckoning with femininity and sensuality in ways that feel authentic and safe and navigating romantic relationships without stifling personal growth.”
Maintaining their grassroots approach to making music, Psycho Gab was involved in every step of making the track, with Rosetta, Caleb and Orlando producing the track. The band was also thrilled to work with award-winning engineer Olly Harmer (The Naked And Famous, Mel Parsons) at Auckland’s famed Lab Studios. “Olly helped us bring to life our dream of doing a live desk mix in the studio – old school style,” says Rosetta.
The cast working on the NZ on Air funded track also included musicians Amy Boroevich (violin) and Jono D’Souza (cello) and master engineer Kelly Hibbert (J Dilla, Little Dragon, Madlib).
Meanwhile, the warm vibe of Compass, its honest lyricism and the DIY nature of the band’s creative process, is aptly reflected in their first-ever music video shot on Super 8 film and directed by long-time creative collaborator Gabriella Gillespie.
“Warm analog equipment and sounds are huge sonic touchstones for us and with the opportunity to expand on that visually, we shot the entire video on about five rolls of film out in Manukau Heads,” says Rosetta.
“Shooting on film obviously presented its challenges; we could only do each shot once, and had no idea how it would look until after we’d sent the film to Australia to develop! It meant we had to have a lot of trust in one another but ultimately, we love the fact that imperfections, giggles, and candid moments made their way into the final cut Plus, consciously leaning into slow, analog, tangible media feels more important than ever to us right now.”
The video was made with the help of Aidan McNeillage (lighting and production assistant) and Maya Morpeth (production assistant), Alex Beattie (colour grading) and Jade Perry (text graphics). It was edited by Gabriella and Orlando. And a beautiful sunray shot from the music video features on the single artwork.
To mark the song’s release, Psycho Gab will tonight (release day – January 30) open for Pōneke jazz-house group Groove Council at Ponsonby Social Club. They are also playing at Shipwrecked festival north of Auckland (February 6-8).
About Psycho Gab:
Formed in early 2023, five-piece, neo-soul band Psycho Gab is the genre, time and place-bending collaborative fruit of Rosetta Stone (vocals), Caleb Wong (keys, prod), Orlando Cooper (bass, prod), Max Henley (guitar), and Finn McNeill (drums). The group have cultivated a unique sound formed at the crossroads between soul, RnB, jazz and pop, leaving endless possibilities of smooth grooves up for exploration.
Their debut single ‘Messy’ was released in 2023 and saw love from across Aotearoa – debuting in the RadioScope Alt Airplay Chart. The self-recorded, produced, mixed and mastered single explores the complexities and insecurities of modern relationships through raw and honest lyrics, flanked by a tight ensemble of jazzy keys, smooth guitars, playful bass licks and driving drum grooves. 2024 has seen the group embark on a whirlwind release trail, with singles ‘Gabben’ and ‘Pianomen’ enthralling listeners into the immersive world of Psycho Gab. Both songs were long term residents in the SRN Top 10, with ‘Pianomen’ eventually reaching #1.
Amidst all this, the group have been illustrating their passionate kaupapa of putting on spectacular shows with artists they love. Following the release of their highly anticipated debut EP CRAZY TALK, the group embarked on their first ever national tour, all the while appearing in the Official NZ Top 20 Albums chart three weeks in a row, making regular appearances in media across Aotearoa, and writing new music. Ending the year on a high, the group gave electric performances at The Others Way Festival 2024 and the TSB Festival of Lights.
Follow Psycho Gab:
Instagram | Facebook | Bandca
